The Whole Dynasty Spoils the Tyrant's Beloved Youngest Daughter-Chapter 266: Really Want to Go Home

Jun Ning was full of question marks: ?????

Could it be that Uncle Qi had come back at some point?

No, no, no, looking at mother’s belly, it’s quite big. She must have been pregnant before Uncle Qi left, but it wasn’t noticeable when he just left, and mother didn’t realize she was pregnant either.

But surely she would have noticed when her belly got bigger!

After mother found out, why didn’t any news of her pregnancy spread?

Jun Ning curiously asked, "Mother, you’re pregnant again, why didn’t you tell me?"

Lady Qi walked forward, one hand supporting her waist, the other holding the now much taller Jun Ning, "Yi Yi, it’s not that mother didn’t want to tell you, it’s that she hasn’t told anyone about this."

"Not even Uncle Qi?" Jun Ning asked, puzzled.

Lady Qi shook her head, "No, I haven’t."

The reason being, she wanted Qi Qin to focus on the battle at the border without distractions.

If Qi Qin knew his wife was pregnant again, coupled with his constant desire for Lady Qi to give him a daughter, he would be clamoring to come back every day, leaving no mindset for war.

Lady Qi’s decision to hide her pregnancy was the right one.

Jun Ning, after some careful thought, guessed the reason but didn’t say it directly nor ask further. She followed Lady Qi to see Qi Xiao, who seemed about three years younger than her. Now she was four years old, and Qi Xiao was just over one, it was normal for him to start talking.

The question is, what would Qi Xiao’s first words to her be?

Jun Ning entered Qi Xiao’s room with curiosity.

The one-year-old Qi Xiao was chubby, plump, and fair-skinned, resembling a little noble young master. He lacked the slightest hint of the ruggedness brought by his father Qi Qin’s thick beard.

Seeing Jun Ning, he cheerfully waved his little hands and called out a title that nearly caused Jun Ning to stumble.

"Wife..."

"Wife..."

Qi Xiao, barely over one year old, though able to speak, wasn’t very articulate, usually struggling with words like ’father’ and ’mother.’

Yet he said ’wife’ so easily? His articulation seemed pretty clear too.

Jun Ning was at a loss for words, "......"

You, you, you are calling me what?

Lady Qi gasped, "Xiao Er, what are you calling?"

Lady Qi looked aghast!

The maids in the room were tongue-tied and couldn’t speak, their faces showing a hint of fear. Heaven knows, they’ve never taught the young master to say such things.

The room, once filled with laughter, became tense because of Qi Xiao’s address!

The servants exchanged glances, while Lady Qi scrutinized them.

Seeing this, Jun Ning coughed twice, stepped forward to hug Qi Xiao, who was learning to walk with the help of the wet nurse, and said boldly, "Taught you just once, and you remembered! Truly teachable."

Qi Xiao, seemingly aware of Jun Ning’s praise, laughed joyously at her.

He laughed so happily.

Jun Ning hugged him and said, "Little one, you are really smart."

Lady Qi withdrew her scrutinizing gaze from the servants, stepped forward, and asked, "Yi Yi, when did you teach Xiao Er to call you ’wife’? Mother doesn’t know!"

Jun Ning tilted her head and thought for a moment, "When was it? I... somehow forgot, it’s been too long, don’t remember. But I’m sure I taught him..."

Upon hearing this, Lady Qi did not press further, she joined the children and started playing with them.

Jun Ning hadn’t seen Qi Xiao in a long time, so she played with him for quite a while until sunset before returning to her place at the National Guardian General Mansion.

...

At the border.

The Crown Prince and Qi Qin had been here for almost half a year, bearing the winds and sun every day, their refined appearances in the Imperial City had vanished, and their skin had become much rougher, with a hint of weariness.

However, their eyes had become much more determined.

At this moment, they sat in front of a barren tent, fending off the bone-chilling wind, watching soldiers sweating in training under the sunset, and sighed deeply.

They were both uneasy about the impending battle.

"Your Highness, have you really thought it through to concentrate all forces for an attack on Bei Xia?" Qi Qin asked.

The Crown Prince nodded, "Yes." After a pause, "This war has dragged on for far too long. The longer it continues, the worse it is for East Chu, not to mention the heavy losses, and with spring approaching, after a winter’s exhaustion, provisions are running low."

So they must launch a quick and decisive fight.

"But a quick fight would also increase the risks." Qi Qin worriedly said, "It might be better to take it slowly."

The Crown Prince exhaled several times, "So, this battle must be well planned, with no room for even the slightest mistake."

Qi Qin wanted to proceed slowly, but the Crown Prince’s words were not without reason. They couldn’t afford to drag it out any longer, a quick and decisive fight was necessary. He looked to the sky with a complicated expression and said, "... It must be so."

"Jing Shu has probably been waiting all this time for me to bring candy back to her, and it’s been so long, I should return." Having made up his mind, the Crown Prince felt much more at ease, less anxious, and even thought of his family, sighing involuntarily.

Qi Qin echoed the sentiment, "I wonder how my wife is, and how Xiao Er is?"

Without a home, Qi Qin was especially attached to the idea of a family. Having been away for nearly half a year, he thought of home every day.

Moreover, Qi Qin wanted to end this war quickly so he could go home and try for a daughter.

For the last half year, watching the Crown Prince constantly thinking of his daughter, he’d grown envious and yearned for a daughter himself.

The Crown Prince patted Qi Qin on the shoulder, "General Qi, as long as we fight hard and win this battle, inflicting a severe blow to Bei Xia, we can return home to see our families."

"Right." Qi Qin earnestly nodded, "To go home sooner, I will fight with all my might." Because some things can’t be accomplished by effort alone, they require utmost dedication.

...

After returning to her room, Jun Ning spent about an hour alone. No one knew what she was fiddling with.

When night fell, Jun Ning quietly slipped out the door.

For safety’s sake, she disguised herself as an old lady, her face full of wrinkles, her hair entirely white, her back hunched, and she wore shabby, old burlap clothes.

She looked pitiful and small.

In the daytime, walking on the street, Jun Ning’s appearance would definitely arouse suspicion.

But at night, in the Black Market, among all kinds of people, the strange sights were so common, there was no surprise.

Therefore, she wouldn’t be recognized.

With this thought, Jun Ning boldly appeared in the Black Market...